[SPOILER] PB37 Dark Savant tries not to be a blatant MP n00b

[Dark Savant]

Hey, this is three picks in a row of Not Really That Civilization.  The Cossacks are more Ukrainian than Russian; Numidia and Carthage were separate kingdoms; and the Oromo are a minority group in modern-day Ethiopia.  (Almost everyone else either speaks Amharic or is a recent refugee from Somalia.)  Is there any other UU in the game like this?  A casual glance at the UU list suggests no.

Depending on who is telling the story, either the Oromo (historically a migrant pastoral people) migrated into Ethiopian-controlled territory, or the Ethiopians conquered territory held by the Oromo.  (Speakers of Amharic and Oromo don't seem to get along even today.)  I'm not sure anyone knows which story is more valid, partly because the Oromo don't have written records that old.  It looks like the Civilopedia takes a careful neutral stance on that one.   This all happened after the end of the Kingdom of Aksum, and before European interference.

Actually gameplay relevance: my choice of Ethiopia means that Exp/Pro and Exp/Cre are even less desirable than I was planning, since Protective Oromo Warriors only get one extra promotion instead of the usual two (if they actually got free Drill III, I'd seriously consider that), and Creative and Steles are an anti-combination (monuments aren't exactly a high priority as Creative).

[Dark Savant]

Isabella is the first leader chosen that I would have been happy with; I figured that the odds of someone picking her before I could were no more than ~25%.  I also don't want Pacal II quite as much now since I didn't get Carthage.

On the other hand, either Mehmed II or Shaka might actually still be available when the snake comes back to me, which I was not expecting.  (I'm guessing Krill will select a Protective leader to pair with the Incan terrace.)

I don't think picking Shaka would be an anti-combination, since I wasn't placing all that much value on the Stele to begin with, and I do eventually get to look forward to quadruple-promoted drafted musketmen if I last that long.  

edit: The draft is now moving fast, and it's starting to look like I might get my choice of Mehmed II or Shaka (or maaaybe Pacal II).

[Dark Savant]

Okay, so I do happen to have a wide selection of Expansive leaders.

I'm actually going to rule Financial out with the "can't go all-in on coastal cities" reason.

I can take Organized, but though that's a solid choice, it's not really any different.  On the other hand, I'm still toying picking Charismatic because that is in fact quite different.

But do you know what's also different?  Aggressive, and I'll take that and its flexibility, and live with the UB that accomplishes even less than usual.

[ipecac]

While we're waiting for the game to actually start, an analysis of your opponents and their picks is almost mandatory

[Dark Savant]

While we're waiting for the game to actually start, an analysis of your opponents and their picks is almost mandatory

What does Krill's choice of Boudicca of the Incans accomplish?  Is there some synergy here that I'm missing?

While I wait for the last of the picks to come in (so I can do everyone at once), is there anyone you've played against who might hold a grudge against you persisting beyond the end of the game?  It doesn't look like it to me, but you'd know better than me.

[ipecac]

What does Krill's choice of Boudicca of the Incans accomplish?  Is there some synergy here that I'm missing?

While I wait for the last of the picks to come in (so I can do everyone at once), is there anyone you've played against who might hold a grudge against you persisting beyond the end of the game?  It doesn't look like it to me, but you'd know better than me.

It doesn't look like there's specific synergy between Boudica and Incans. Boudica is just great for getting highly promoted...anything, really. And Krill is a warmonger.

Also, I'm confused by 'grudge against me persisting'? Anyway I don't recall playing with any of the other players.

[Dark Savant]

I've got a big interview tomorrow, so I don't have a ton of energy to spare at the moment.  I'll do the review tomorrow.  That isn't too late, I hope.  

[Dark Savant]

Interview done, another on Friday.  Quick overview of rival civilizations:

1. dtay (Tokugawa of the Zulu) - dtay is much more of a builder than a warmonger, but that's plenty scary in its own right.  We'll get to see Tokugawa leading a smoothly-run civilization for once in Civ 4.    I suppose Impis owned by someone were inevitable.  Need to get that copper online sooner rather than later, everyone!
   
2. CML (Bismarck of Russia) - Russia strikes me as having a UU/UB pair coming too late, and unlike say the Dutch not quite strong enough to offset that.  And someone just had to take Industrious, though I absolutely can't blame them taking it this late in the rotation.
   
3. Coeurva (Cyrus of Carthage) - Picked Carthage just ahead of us   I wonder if they're going to try to produce Numidian Cavalry with three extra promotions?
   
4. Gavagai (Suryavarman of the Ottomans) - The fastest-start leader here, with enough other stuff to not fall behind much later.  I don't have much of a read on Gavagai's personality and style compared to the others veterans here, anything I should know?
   
5. Krill (Boudicca of the Inca) - Is Krill actually going to quechua rush someone?  I'm still wondering why someone would pick the Inca on this map, without backing it up with cheap Protective granaries.  I also can't help but wonder if someone is going to be tempted to swing at Krill before he can get his super-promoted units online.
   
6. Ventessel (Wang Kon of China) - Hmm, how much does Drill I help cho-ko-nus (my instinct is not a whole lot)?  Those things are good already though.
   
7. Germanjoey (Churchill of Greece) - Cheap Odeons are something, I suppose.  And this is definitely the easy winner in the category of "player I least want early war with".
   
8. JR4 (Isabella of Mongolia) - Another rival packing strong horse units.  Also the most likely to be tempted by an early religion, I think.
   

Huh, Charismatic is a popular choice this game.   Also, no one picked Organized!  I wasn't expecting that.

[ipecac]

Interview done, another on Friday.  Quick overview of rival civilizations:

1. dtay (Tokugawa of the Zulu) - dtay is much more of a builder than a warmonger, but that's plenty scary in its own right.  We'll get to see Tokugawa leading a smoothly-run civilization for once in Civ 4.    I suppose Impis owned by someone were inevitable.  Need to get that copper online sooner rather than later, everyone!
   
2. CML (Bismarck of Russia) - Russia strikes me as having a UU/UB pair coming too late, and unlike say the Dutch not quite strong enough to offset that.  And someone just had to take Industrious, though I absolutely can't blame them taking it this late in the rotation.
   
3. Coeurva (Cyrus of Carthage) - Picked Carthage just ahead of us   I wonder if they're going to try to produce Numidian Cavalry with three extra promotions?
   
4. Gavagai (Suryavarman of the Ottomans) - The fastest-start leader here, with enough other stuff to not fall behind much later.  I don't have much of a read on Gavagai's personality and style compared to the others veterans here, anything I should know?
   
5. Krill (Boudicca of the Inca) - Is Krill actually going to quechua rush someone?  I'm still wondering why someone would pick the Inca on this map, without backing it up with cheap Protective granaries.  I also can't help but wonder if someone is going to be tempted to swing at Krill before he can get his super-promoted units online.
   
6. Ventessel (Wang Kon of China) - Hmm, how much does Drill I help cho-ko-nus (my instinct is not a whole lot)?  Those things are good already though.
   
7. Germanjoey (Churchill of Greece) - Cheap Odeons are something, I suppose.  And this is definitely the easy winner in the category of "player I least want early war with".
   
8. JR4 (Isabella of Mongolia) - Another rival packing strong horse units.  Also the most likely to be tempted by an early religion, I think.
   

Huh, Charismatic is a popular choice this game.   Also, no one picked Organized!  I wasn't expecting that.

Hope the interviews went well.

-Russia seems weak
-Gavagai is strong. Can't recall specifics about personality/style, but IIRC he managed to counter a rush attempt from Krill in PB18.
-I'm surprised Krill didn't pair Inca with PRO too, but I think he wants to warmonger (no surprise there).
-I don't see much of a special advantage for CKNs to have extra Drill 1

Among the top 4, I think Krill will have the edge just because RtR is just KrillMod.

[Dark Savant]

Among the top 4, I think Krill will have the edge just because RtR is just KrillMod.

I thought it's just that he's good at both building and war more than anything else.

I'll see if I can come up with a better plan than chopping all our forests down right away, but I wouldn't be surprised if I can't come up with something better.

Do we just wait a few more days for the map to be finalized?  I'm not sure how long we wait before the game actually begins here.